Is Porsche overhyped?

I've been following this thread since its inception and will throw in my 2 cents. I have an older 911 that I love and I take to Porsche DE events; my car is stock; with all of its neck snapping 172 hp and sometimes recalcitrant 915 tranny I've learned how to become a much smoother driver and have learned to carry speed through the corners. Of course I wish I had more hp and I'm looking at upgrades, etc. 944Ts have a great hp/buck ratio, as do some of the older Boxsters; one of the instructors has a Carrera motor stuffed in his boxster and the thing handles beautifully and makes good power; great track car and unlike my 911, is actually comfortable to drive in the street with effective a/c etc.

Now that a supercharging kit has come out for early boxsters, the performance/$$$ ratio will only improve on these cars.

But, there's still something about the air-cooled cars that to me will always make them special. I would love to pickup a 1989 930.....

 

Dont get me wrong, I dont think the gt3 or Turbo is ugly...otherwise I would not be tracking a 996tt right now!...That being said, I definitely agree with most everything you said and also must admit the widowmaker brings the most lust as far as Porsche Design is concerned...
(End responce to the Quote)




As for the boxter comments...whoa...there are some DEFENSIVE people...
I love the boxter/cayman and thought it was a blast to drive, especially on the track (Laguna Seca for me). I dont know if some of you are talking about the new boxters and caymans...but they are pretty vocal from the factory...and many of you say you cant hear it??? Anyway, it is a great car in its own right. As long as people have what car they want, why do they have to knock others??? I even see some 911 guys getting aggressive.

 

These Porsche vs Ferrari threads are lame...some super fans around here need to take off their Fcar glasses and give credit where credit is due....Porsche is a motoring and motorsports legend that stands side by side with anything Ferrari has accomplished.

I say that as someone who is lucky enough to experience both marques...

These threads only make this board look bad, and loud mouthed types with nothing to back it up (and not willing to honour their original blow hard wagers) should be weeded out.

 

I wonder why people get so fired up on internet chat (although I have fallen prey to getting my nose out of joint a time or two). We all know there is ZERo accountability (except the need for a modicum of courtesy enforced by those blessed moderators). The irony is the gent put on suspension doesn't even own an f-car (if I read his posts on another forum correctly), but is thinking about getting a 355. That is the weakness (and strength) of the internet. Anyone can have an opinion on anything. But what goes around comes around, and those who speak from experience and with some level of class and restraint are given the respect they are due.

At the risk of sounding defensive I would like to give a boxster owner's take on the lack of exhaust note. As anyone who has driven one hard knows, there is plenty of "note" from the intake once you are deep into the RPMs. It is a glorious, sonorous wail that, amazingly enough, is almost inaudible by others. It is hard to believe, as you stand trackside listening to them whisper by, that the driver is having an entirely different experience. I am not even sure what the passenger can hear. lol

So, is exhaust note for YOU, or for the people you are driving by? I am not saying either approach is wrong, but I grew tired of rattling windows on my street a long time ago and really appreciate the fact I can audibly enjoy my car without having to make a lot of racket for everyone else while I am doing it. But to say the boxster has no "song" is technically incorrect. It is a private song, but not a public one. And in an increasingly noise-polluted environment, I for one appreciate that fact.

On another topic...RufMD, what are the chances we get to see a CTR III in the shop here?

 

Took the words right out of my mouth Jas. Anybody who thinks Porsches are overhyped has not spent some real time with one on the street and the track.
Lots of experts on this thread. Glad you guys are trimming down the fat.
Luis

 

maybe there was some confusion. None of them have an F40.

 

Noah
Scariest thing about this thread was that YOU NOAH came out as a voice of "reason"

What happened? any blunt force trauma or meds we should know about

 

I fell down the stairs last night.

 

Fell? or Pushed??

 

combo of both

 

For those who remember....
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Ah, poor Gentry! He is probably flying through the sky right now, looking down on us.

I bet his plane could beat this, Alex's, Turbo thingy.

 

I am afraid that I am mostly responsible for the confusion over the F40. I knew he was running his mouth and did not have an F40, let alone a Ferrari to take up/back up his challenge and I continued to ask him about *his* car. The F40 exists only in his avatar.

On the other hand, my Turbo & experience with Porsche is real.

 

This thread surprises me. Oh wait, no it doesn't.

D-Mak posts up a challenge.
Somebody accepts his challenge fair and square.
D-Mak runs away from his keyboard and hasn't be seen in 5+ pages.

Wow, I've never seen this before...

 

WOW Alex I mean Shark01…I am so very disappointed by this lame comment! I am even more disappointed that you would use that movie as a reference point.

As for the Boxster as a hairdressers car (hmmm BS!) that is cute and all but I think you may know better then that….You may know a few Boxster owners that care a bit more then looking pretty in their cars…You know not all of us care about throwing heavy ass blinged out wheels, big Arse spoilers and other overzealous body kits on their car….I think you may even know a few 911 owners that bling out their cars never track them and drive around just to be seen..Not throwing stones just doing the comparison!!!

BTW Check my join date here man YOU made me make my first post here!!!!

 

Took a friend to a Porsche dealer this past week because he wanted to look at a Boxster...we ended up driving a regular boxster that was a little "tired"...and then spotted an '03 Boxster S, speed yellow, 18" carrera wheels, painted center console, CF galore, just looked very. very tight !

We test drove the car, and it was very sporty and just day and night difference than the previous one we had looked at. He ended up spending 13k more than he wanted to, but he got such a nice car and is extremely happy.

Going up through the gears on that car, it was easy to see how someone could become very attached to the Boxster. I was so happy for him, first P Car for the guy, and probably not his last !!!

 

One thing is for sure the NEW boxster's engine is far superior to the old. Both are a blast to drive but the new one has such good low and high end giddyup.
I was in North Carolina for the press launch of the new one and we got to drive Tail of the Dragon. A winding road that is made for running a small light car like this.
The Boxster (non s) with an autobox is a slug. BUT put a stick in it and the S it is a completely different car.
couple of my pix from the event (Porsche really knows how to do these things... stayed in a great resort called the Snowbird Mountain Lodge)
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

The One Lap of America has been won by a 996 tt for the last several years, I think that answers the question.

 

At least there is ONE person on this thread that owns an F40, hey Jas!

BuddyG

 

BuddyG ! LEGEND !!!!!

 

Lets put it this way, Ferrari and Porche need volume to delope and maintain their businesses. For both companies the majority of sales are probably to people who are buying a badge and image, at least in the U.S. where except for the track driving hard is difficult. Therefore the majority of these cars are bought on hype. The fact that both companies still make cars that can really be DRIVEN to and on the track(the cayenne excepted) is fortunate for us entusiasts. If we have to suffer poseur hype and associated image to enable enough volume for these cars to be built it is a price worth paying. Some porches and ferraris are better than others, for a hard drive none are really bad.

 

You ever see a Cayenne on a track? They will surprise you.

Not that this is always true, but I usually see a trailer when I see a Ferrari at the track. A big, enclosed trailer. And a motor home. lol And possibly some staff from the local F-car dealer out to support the person driving the F-car on the track. Usually the only p-cars I see on trailers are non-street-legal. Maybe just cuz us p-car types are too poor.

 

vralex has one as well

 

The PCar that I have helped campaign rides on a trailer because it is not street legal and is blatantly obvious about it...ie very unrestricted exhaust, numbers, and sponsors all over it...BUT we did take it for a beer run one day after work! THAT was fun...